Clutch



May 5, 1936. c,H. HowLAND-SHEARMAN 2,039,846

CLUTCH Filed Juiy 2v, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 1 f' f I v l, /48 2/ l/ l l /I lNvENToR Char/es HHow/and5hearman ATTORNEY May 5, 1936.

' H. HowLAND-SHEARMAN 2,039,846

CLUTCH' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1934 INVENTORl Char/es H. Haw/and-Shearman ATTORNEY C. H HOWLAND-SHEARMAN CLUTCH Filed lJuly 27, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR Car/esHHowland-hearman ATTORNEY May 5, 1936.

7 mf d .6 ww N F Y Patented 'May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT' omer CLUTCH Charles E. Howland-Shearman, Hamden, Conn. Application July Z7, 1934, Serial No. 737,155 12 Claims. (Cl. 192-29) This invention relates to improvements in clutches, and more particularly to automatic safety clutches having a clutching member and a clutched member and automatic mechanism controlled by the clutching member and adapted to make automatic selection of the time and angular position of clutching and unclutching of said members.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,

location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown by the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Objects of the invention are:

To provide an auto-selective clutch of absolutely safe engaging and disengaging functions;

To provide in an auto-selective safety clutch, a renewable clutching member, a renewable clutched member and automatic mechanism adapted to make auto-selection of the time and angular position of clutching and unclutching the clutched member;

To provide a safety clutch having an auxiliary mechanism which shall be capable of accelerating the clutched member so that its angular velocity shall greatly exceed that of the clutching member and thus render impossible the serious accidents which often result from the misengagement of clutches;

To provide in a safety clutch, members which. shall be adapted to render the entire clutching and releasing operations of the mechanism substantially shockless and noiseless at all times. thus greatly contributing to the durability of the mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, in which, by way of illustration, is shown an automatic safety clutch adapted for use with the machine disclosed in the pending application, Serial No. 702,286, filed December 14, 1933.

The said application shows a machine for causing cold flow in various substances such as metals and is operated by a power shaft. The clutch, the subject matter of the instant application, would be connected between this shaft and the prime mover.

In the accompanying drawings: y Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the clutch in declutched position, the control being set for semi-automatic operation;

Figure 2 is a detail view of the horizontal counter-balanced lever, Figure 1;

, cally by means of a Figure 3 is a rear view of the swinging link, FiS'U-e l;

Figure 4 is a left side elevation of the same; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with the clutch engaged; 5 Figure 6 is a vertical section of the same on the line 6 6, Figure 5; t

Figure '7 is a side view of the mechanism set for full automatic operation;

Figure 8 is a detail view showing the trip-shoe l0 lock-out latch in latched position; and

Figure 9 is a perspective detail view of the bellcrank yoke. l

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral v2li denotes a power shaft on which a clutching member 2| l5 is fastened by means of kys 22. The periphery of member 2| is formed with a series of recesses 23 having rounded ends 24. The numerai 25 denotes a rotatable member iournalled in a body or housing 26 and adapted to engage the rounded 20 ends 24 of recesses 23. A portion 21 of member 25 is cut away, and a pinion 23 is formed on or secured to member 25.

A segmentally geared oscillator 29, in mesh with pinion 28 is adapted to oscillate on a pin 25 35 secured in the body 26. A roller 3| is rotatable on a pin 32 in a downward extension 33 of oscillator 29. Pads 34 and 35 of rawhide or other suitable material, secured to body 26, serve to limit the movement of oscillator mem- 30 ber 29.

A rod 36 pivoted to the oscillator 29 and slidable in a trunnion 31 supported in body 26, is urged to the left by a compression spring 38, hereinafter referred to as the accelerator spring. 35

A locking yoke 39, slidable in body 26 and urged upward by a compression spring 4|), has a lower cross bar 4| adapted to engage a notch 42 in the rod 36.

The numeral 43 denotes a, forked timer lever 40 pivoted to body 26 at 44 and spanning a roller 45 in locking yoke 39. Lever 43 carries a trip roller 46 adapted to engage bevels 41 on the outer surfaces of driving member 2|.

The numeral 43 denotes a suitable frame or 45 support in which the shaft 20 is journalled as shown in Figure 6.

A release plunger 49, slidable vertically in a stationary guide 50 carries a concave contact block 5|. A wedge 52 dovetailedto the release 50 plunger 49 and block 5| and adjustable vertiscrew 53 in a slot 54, provides a means of adjusting the contact block 5| horizontally. A plunger 55, having a lateral-rectangular notch 56 and lower shoulders 56a, is 55 nose of latch 9| adapted the vprevious I vided on the lever 81 as tion, the release the member 25 to the clutching member 2| which now idles through slidable vertically in the release plunger 48 and is connected by a link 51 to a bell crank 58 pivoted at 59 to the frame 48. A horizontal link 80 connects bell crank 58 with a second bell crank 6| pivoted to the frame at 52 and terminating in avpedal 63.

A block 84, slidable on plunger 55, is articulated by means of links 85 and 88, FigureJ 6, with a horizontal lever 61 rockable on a stationary pin 68 and provided with a counterwelght 69. A segmental extension 10 having a shoulder 1|, is proshown in Figure 2. A swinging link 12, mounted on pin 88 in front of the lever 61 is also formed with a segmental extension 18, Figures 3 and 4, having a shoulder 14 adapted to engage shoulder 1 I.

The swinging link 12 is pivoted to a horizontal link 15 articulated at the right end to an arm 16 and at the left end through a short link 11 to a manual positioning lever 18 pivoted to the frame 48 at 19. 'I'he arm 18 is fastened in any suitable manner to a shaft journalled in the frame 48. A latch lever 8| is also fastened to the shaft 80 and contains a sliding latch 82 urged upward by acompression spring 88. The latch 82 has an inclined or cam-shaped upper end 82a.

The numeral 84 denotes yoke 84 contains a slot 81, .engaging a cross pin 88 in the lower end of a verticallylslidable rod 89. 'I'he numeral 80 denotes an inclined timer shoe fastened to the upper end of rod 88.

A tripper latch 8| is slidable in the release urged to the left by a compresbetween a flange 88 and a short bushing 84. 'I'he numeral denotes a to engage the -notch 58 in release plunger 55. The latch 8| carries a pair of rollers 85 engaging vertical slots 81 in the sides of yoke 84.

A vertical rod'88. slidably mounted in the stationary guide -50 and urged upward by a oompression spring 88 bearing against acollar |88, is articulated by a short link |8| to the horizontal lever 61.

The numerals |02 and |88 denote left and right positioning notches adapted to be engsed by a manually operable detent |84 on the positioning lever 18.

A tension spring |85 urges the bell crank lever 58 in a clock-wise direction. The numeral |08 denotes a stop pad surrounding the vertical rod 88. Thebodyor housing 28issecuredto adriven shaft |01, Figure 'I'he operation of the device is as follows: Referring to Figure l, which shows the apparatus positioned by lever 18 for semi-automatic operaplunger 48 is held up by the spring 89 which has raised block 84 by rocking the lever 81 counter-clockwise. In this position the roller 8| is held by the contact block 5I. During declutching the counter-clockwise revolution of the body or housing 28 after bring'- ing roller '8| into contact with 5| oscillator 29 clockwise, thus compressing the accelerator spring 88 and allowing the cross bar 4| of locking yoke 88 to be snapped into the notch 42. by spring 40. The oscillator 281s thereby locked in the position shown in Figure 1, the accelerator spring 88 remaining compressed. 'Ihe described clockwise oscillation of 29 revolves the position shown, releasing the cut-away portion v21.

has swung the' first raises his foot, allowing the tension spring v |05 to swing the bell crank 58 the plunger 55 until the nose snaps into the notch 58. A

'I'he pedal 63 is now depressed, drawing down the plunger 55 which carries with it the release plunger 49 and frees the roller 8|. The oscillator 29 being locked by the yoke 89 as previously described, the clutch cannot engage until one of the bevel corners 41 of the clutching member 2| strikes and depresses the roller 48. When this occurs the trip lever 48 is depressed, moving the yoke 89 downward and releasing the cross bar 4| from the notch 42 in rod 88. The spring 88 expands, accelerating the oscillator 29 in a counterclockwise oscilation which rotates the member 25 clockwise through an angle of 90. The engaging portion of 25 is thus presented to the next approaching rounded end of the depression 28, which engages 25 as shown in' Figure 5, thus engaging the clutch and causing the body 28 to be driven counter-clockwise. It is evident that the member 25 is subject to greatest wear. By reference to Figure 6 it will be seen that the part 25 may readily be removed for replacement by removing the side plate'from the clutch body 28. However,since wear. occurs principally on one side oi the member 25, the member may be removed, turned end for end in a vertical plane, and replaced, thus bringing the substantially unworn side into wearing position. By this means the useful life of member 25 may clockwise, raising of the latch 9| be doubled before `replacement is required.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the clutch cannot engage after depression of the pedal until the trip roller 48 is tripped by a bevel corner of the clutching member. This insures a deilnite and proper relative position of the parts at the t of positioning the member 25 for engagement. The accelerator spring 88 is suiiiciently powerful to revolve the member 25 at a surface speed greater than that of the driving member 2 which further insures that 25 is completely and properly positioned as shown in Figure 5 before it can be engaged by 2|. The trip and lock members, in combination withthel clutching member itself, constitute an angular timing device by means of which the motions necessary for engagepossible for the device to mis-clutch and the destructive and dangerous results of improper or partial engagement are eliminated.

The clutch having been engaged as descr-l the clutching member 2| and the housing 28 with carried around it engages the inclined shoe 80 as 8| again engages 75 the contact block 5I, and the continued motion of 26 swings the oscillator clockwise, compressing the spring 38, disengaging the member 25 from member 2| and allowing the yoke 39 to lock rthe parts in disengaged position. As disengagement is completed the contact block 5I by still restraining roller 3 I, stops ail motion of the housing 2B.

It will thus be seen that by the above described mechanism the driven parts of the clutch are automatically limited to a single revolution or single cycle operation for each engagement of the clutch. To cause re-engagement it is necessary for the operator to raise his foot, allowing the plunger 55 to engage the release plunger 49 by means of the latch 9|, then depress the pedal 63 to cause an engagement and single driving. revolution as described. The clutch thus is prevented from allowing accidental repeat strokes, for instanceof a punch press, thereby eliminating danger of injury to operators or damage to machines and material.

When it is desired to allow continuous revolution of the driven parts, as in the case of machine tools with full automatic operation, the lever 18 is moved until the detent |94 seats in the notch |03 as shown in Figure 7. The linkll5 is drawn to the left, moving the swinging link 12 clockwise. The shoulder 14 on link 12 engages shoulder 'll on the lever 51, rocking the latter clockwise and drawing down the block 54.

If the plunger 55 is in raised position due to the operator having raised his foot on the pedal 63, the right hand end of vlever 61 engages shoulders 55a on the plunger 55, causing 55 also to be drawn downward, carrying with it the release plunger 49 to allow the clutch to engage. If the pedal is depressed as the lever 'I8 is shifted, and the latch 9i is released, the plunger 55 will be down and the release plunger 49 in its upper position. In this case the lowering of block 64 allows the release plunger 49 to descend by gravity to allow clutch engagement.

When lever H3v is in full automatic position, as shown in Figure '7, the block 54 is held down by the engagement of shoulders 7i and i4 as described, and the plunger 55 is also held down by the end of lever 61. Release plunger 49 therefore remains in its lower position, and the clutch revolves in continuous engagement.

As the lever 'i9 is shifted to full automatic position, as described, the link l5 swings the lever 16 and latch lever 8l clockwise, pressing the latch 82 against the end of bell crank 84 and compressing the spring 83 as shown in Figure 7. At the first contact of the roller 3l with the inclined shoe 90 by which the .latter is depressed to swing the bell crank yokel 84 to the right, the spring 83 forces the latch 82 upward on the left of 84, thus holding the latter to the right and preventing the shoe from returning upward. Due to the strength of spring 83 and the inclined edge of latch 82, the upward latching motion of the latter swings the bell crank 84 farther to the right, thus holding the inclined shoe 90 entirely clear of the roller 3| in the latters subsequent revolutions.

Thus in full automatic position the all exterior control devices are completely clear of the clutch which remains engaged continuously until the lever 78 is returned to the left or semi-automatic position, whereupon the parts assume the relation shown and described in connection with Figure 1.

While the clutch as just described is particularly suitable for use in the machine producing cold ilow referred to in the copending application aforesaid, it will be understood that it has many other applications and may be used in any form oi' mechanism in which a clutch of this type can with advantage be employed. Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details o1' a. preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary power clutch, a clutching member, a member adapted to be engaged thereby, and mechanical means rotatable with one of said members and adapted to completely position the same for engagement by the other while said other member is in continued rotation with respect to said iirst member, said means being operable by said rst member at a predetermined point prior to the engagement of said members.

2. In a clutch, a rotating clutching member, a member adapted to be engaged thereby, and means controlled by said clutching member and adapted to move said last member into position f for engagement by said rst member at a speed greater than the speed of said rst member.

3. In a clutch, in combination, a clutching member, a lrotative member adapted to be clutched by said first member, and an oscillator geared to said rotative member and adapted to rotate said second member into position .for engagement by said first member, said oscillator being controlled by said clutching member.

4. In a clutch, in combination, a driving shaft,

a clutching member secured thereto, a body rogagement by said first member in angularly timed relation to the position of said rst member, means to disengage said second from said first member, and a lock operable by said iirs't means I to lock said second member out of engagement with said ilrst member.

6. In a clutch, a clutching member, a member adapted to be auto-selectively engaged by said clutching member, timing mechanism adapted to cause angularly timed auto-selective engagement of said second member by said clutching member,

actuating means for actuating said second member to present it for engagement by and retract it from engagement with said clutching member, locking means actuated by said timing mechanism adapted to automatically lock said actuating means upon the disengagement thereby of said second member, and an accelerator comprising a resilient member adapted to operate said actuating means so as to cause the actuation thereby of said second member at a greater velocity of travel than the velocity of travel of said clutching member.

7. In combination, a clutching member, a member adapted to be selectively clutched by said clutching member, timing mechanism adapted to cause angularly timed engagement of said second member by said clutching member, an actuating member adapted to actuate said second member to present it for engagement by and retract it from engagement with said clutching member, locking means actuated by said timing mechanism adapted to automatically lock said actuating member upon the disengagement thereby of said second member, and-an external reciprocal releasing member adapted upon its projection to engage said actuating member, thereby causing disengagement of said clutched member from said clutching member, and adapted upon its retraction to release said actuating member for actuation of said second member.

8. In a clutch, a clutching member, a member adapted to be selectively engaged by said clutching member, timing mechanism operable by said clutching member adapted to cause angularly timed selective engagement of said second member by said clutching member, an actuating member adapted to position said second member i'or engagement by and retract it from engagement with said clutching member, locking means operable by said timing mechanism adapted to automatically lock said actuating member upon the disengagement thereby of said second member, and an accelerator comprising a resilient member adapted to operate said actuating member whereby said second member is positioned at a greater velocity of travel than the velocity of travel of said clutching member.

9. A clutch comprising a rotative housing embracing a revoluble clutching member, a geared rotative member adapted to be engaged by said revoluble clutching member, a segmentally geared oscillator adapted to actuate said geared rotative member, a resilient accelerator adapted to automatically actuate said segmentally geared oscillator, a timer adapted to be contactiveLv actuated by said revoluble clutching member and provided with a locking plunger adapted to lock or release said resilient accelerator, a contact member on said segmentally geared oscillator, a reciprocal member adapted upon its projection to engagedly actuate said contact member, thereby causing simultaneous withdrawal of said clutched member from engagement with said clutching member, and compresslvely storing and locking said resilient accelerator, manual means to retract said reciprocal member, means controllable by said contact member to project said reciprocal member after engagement of the clutch whereby said clutch may be stopped after a single revolution, and means to lock said reciprocal member in retracted position.

' 10. A clutching mechanism comprising 4a rotative housing embracing a revoluble clutching member, a rotative member adapted to be engaged by said clutching member, a segmentally geared oscillator adapted to actuate said rota- A tive member, a resilient accelerator adapted to actuate said segmentally geared oscillator, a timer having a spring pressed locking plunger adapted to lock or to release said resilient accelerator and actuating said segmentallygeared oscillator tov simultaneously release said rotativeV clutched member from said revoluble clutching member and store said resilient accelerator, meansfto po4 sition said plunger for engagement with said release roll or for release therefrom, resilient means including a. counterpoise adapted to automatically return said release plunger to its projected position whereby said clutch may be disengaged after a single revolution, and means to lock said plunger in retracted position.

11. A clutching mechanism comprising a rotative housing embracing a revoluble clutching member, a rotative member adapted to be engaged by said clutching member, a segmentally geared oscillator adapted to actuate said rotative member, a resilient accelerator adapted by its stored energy to actuate said segmentally geared oscillator, a timer having a spring pressed locking plunger adapted to lock or to release said resilient accelerator and adapted to be contactively actuated by said revolublev clutching member, a contact roll cn said segmentally geared oscillator, external to said clutch -a reciprocable release plunger adapted to engage said contact roll whereby said segmentally geared oscillator may be moved to simultaneously release said rotative clutched member from said revoluble clutching member and store said resilient accelerator, means to position said release plunger for ensagement with said release roll or for release therefrom, a resilient return device adapted to automatically return said release plunger to its position for engaging said contact roll, a counterpoise on said return device, means to lock said plunger in released position, a trip device operable by said release roll to release said locking -means whereby said clutching member and said second member may be disengaged at the end of one revolution of said housing, and means to disable said trip device and said resilient return device. f

12. In a rotary powerclutch, in combination, a

clutching member, amember adapted to be en-l gaged thereby, mechanical means rotatable with one of said members and adapted to completely position the same while said other member is in continued rotation with.l respect to said rst member, said means being operable by said rst member at a predetermined point prior to the engagement oi.' said members, an exterior positive stop presentable to engage said `mechanical means to release the same whereby said members maybe disengaged, and means controllable by said mechanical means 'to present said positive stop.

CHARLES H. HOWLAND-SHEARMAN. 

